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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Lauren Theisen

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The Sebastian Aho Power Rankings: Game 5

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: The New Jersey Devils celebrate a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers in Game Four of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 24, 2023 in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

New Jersey Devils v New York Rangers – Game Four

The Rangers Should Have Traded For A Proven Playoff Scorer

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Ray Ratto

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 24: The Seattle Kraken celebrate the winning goal by Jordan Eberle #7 against the Colorado Avalanche during overtime in Game Four of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Climate Pledge Arena on April 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Colorado Avalanche v Seattle Kraken – Game Four

The Kraken Are For Real

Connor McDavid congratulates Leon Draisaitl

NHL: APR 23 Western Conference First Round – Oilers at Kings

The Oilers Bailed Themselves Out Of Loser Jail

Los Angeles, - April 20: Kawhi Leonard, center, of the LA Clippers looks on from the bench in street clothes against of the Phoenix Suns in the first half of game 3 of a first round NBA playoff basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns defeated the LA Clippers 129-124 to win game 3 of a first round NBA playoff basketball game.

It’s About Star Power

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Barry Petchesky

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 20: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal during the second period of Game Two of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 20, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers v New Jersey Devils – Game Two

Maybe Put A Body On Chris Kreider In Front

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) dumps Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) during Game 2 of an Eastern Conference First Round playoff contest between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on April 19, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

NHL: APR 19 Eastern Conference First Round – Panthers at Bruins

The Panthers Are No Fun For The Bruins

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David Roth

Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins and teammate Linus Ullmark #35 share a hug after Game One of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Florida Panthers v Boston Bruins – Game One

Podcasts

Please Like Her Sports, With Lauren Theisen

Shayne Gostisbehere leaps onto the back of an Islanders player

NHL: APR 19 Eastern Conference First Round – Islanders at Hurricanes

The Hurricanes Won Themselves Some Wiggle Room

DALLAS, TX APRIL 19: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild tends goal against the Dallas Stars in Game Two of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 19, 2023, in Dallas, Texas (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

Minnesota Wild v Dallas Stars – Game One

The Wild’s Goalie Platoon Didn’t Pay Off

Tampa Bay Lightning v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game One

The Leafs Must Empty Their Minds Of Game 1

Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid have a discussion

Los Angeles Kings v Edmonton Oilers – Game One

Nobody Screws Themselves Faster Than The Oilers

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) takes a high stick from Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) during Game 1 of an Eastern Conference First Round playoff contest between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on April 17, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: APR 17 Eastern Conference First Round – Panthers at Bruins

How Do You Beat The Bruins?

Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils and Jakub Zboril #67 of the Boston Bruins fight

New Jersey Devils v Boston Bruins

NHL Playoff Series, Ranked By Comedic Potential

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 13: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks acknowledges fans after his final game as a Blackhawk at United Center, against the Philadelphia Flyers, on April 13, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)

Philadelphia Flyers v Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews’s Silence Wasn’t Always A Virtue

Jason Zucker sprays ice as he stops in front of Petr Mrazek

NHL: APR 11 Blackhawks at Penguins

The Penguins And Islanders Are Having A Mid-Off

NHL: APR 10 Sabres at Rangers

Sabres Complete Phase One Of “Operation: Stay Alive”

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 10: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders leaves the ice after obtaining an injury during a game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on April 10, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Islanders v Washington Capitals

The Islanders Came Up Small

Tage Thompson pounds gloves with his teammates on the bench

Buffalo Sabres v Detroit Red Wings

The Sabres Still Have Their Dream

Mark Scheifele and Mikael Backlund fight as their teams scrum

Calgary Flames v Winnipeg Jets

The Flames Might Actually Want To Keep Playing

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 01: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring his third goal of the game against the Anaheim Ducks and 50th goal of the season on April 1, 2023 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Leon Draisaitl;Lukas Dostal;Jakob Silfverberg

Anaheim Ducks v Edmonton Oilers

I Need Someone To Talk Me Out Of Believing In The Oilers

Matt Boldy smiles and hugs Filip Gustavsson

Minnesota Wild v Colorado Avalanche

The Wild Are Getting Lucky At The Perfect Time

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Tom Ley

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 15: Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres attempts a wrap around goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period of the game at Capital One Arena on March 15, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Buffalo Sabres v Washington Capitals

Tage Thompson Missed His True Calling

Tyler Bertuzzi leaps to avoid a shot on Juuse Saros

NHL: MAR 28 Predators at Bruins

Juuse Saros Holds The Keys To The Last Playoff Spot Out West

TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 27: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up before he NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on March 27, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Arizona Coyotes

Witness Connor McDavid